Engineering Boot Camp: A Broadly Based Online Summer Bridge Program for Engineering Freshmen

摘要

This paper describes an evidence-based practice implemented by the College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina Charlotte with objectives to increase retention and success of first year engineering students. Freshmen accepted into the engineering program typically were very successful in high school, leading many to falsely believe that the same habits that led to high school success will lead to college success. Combined with the new campus environment, the lack of study skills and unrealistic expectations may result in more instability than most have experienced in their young lives. Students who do not swiftly recognize their deficiencies and adapt to more effective habits and tools may perform poorly in their classes, leading to low first semester GPAs. This in turn may cause them to question their career choice and doubt their ability to successfully complete the engineering program. Such negative self-belief could result in a low retention rate for the College of Engineering. To help address these problems, the online Boot Camp program is designed to help students improve perseverance, math readiness, and spatial visualization. It also helps them adjust to campus life, set realistic academic expectations, choose or confirm their choice of major, introduce them to academic and administrative resources, and provide opportunities to interact with upper class students and other freshmen prior to their arrival on campus in August. Few students will need to address all areas, but most students have needs in two or more areas. The program is designed to be inexpensive to administer and require low maintenance while accommodating about 500 students each summer. Students enroll in the program during summer orientation and are urged to complete it on a voluntary basis before the fall semester begins. Results from the first two years of the program look promising.